Mountain Country Cowboy Page 12

  Hunter’s Hideaway. Where rustic meets relaxing—without apology.

  As they entered the little clearing surrounding her family’s cabin, he could see that one of Rio’s parents had left the porch light on. She stopped and turned to him, her face faintly illuminated by the dim glow.

  “Thanks, Cash, for walking me home. I guess I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “Today.”

  She smiled. “Right.”

  He lightly touched her arm. “But before you go, I want to apologize. I know you’re disappointed in me. In what I said about the promise you made in exchange for your mother’s life.”

  She held up her hand to halt him. “Cash. Let’s not go there. It’s late, and I’m not up to discussing this.”

  He stepped closer and took her hand in his. “I may not agree with you, but I want you to know that I understand how much you love your mother. That you’d—”

  “Please, Cash. Don’t.” Her beautiful upturned face pleaded, but as their gazes collided, her eyes rounded ever so slightly, her lips parting as if to say more.

  But she didn’t.

  Suddenly dry-mouthed, his gaze dipped to her lips and his heart rate shot up. He should step back. Release her...yet his legs refused to do what his brain was telling them to do.

  What would it be like to kiss Riona Hunter? As he stared into her eyes, he was surprised to see a mutual curiosity smoldering there. A longing that matched his own. Her hands tightened on his as she swayed slightly toward him.

  She wanted this, too.

  What would it hurt? Just this once.

  But as he was lowering his mouth to the temptation of hers, she stepped abruptly back, pulling her hands from his.

  Shattering the tantalizing moment.

  “Good night, Cash.”

  And then she was gone, leaving him to numbly stand staring after her until the extinguishing of the porch light left him alone in the dark.

  Chapter Eleven

  What had she been thinking?

  She squeezed her eyes tightly shut as she paused in front of Gypsy’s stall not many hours later. She couldn’t keep letting images of Cash’s gaze burning into hers saturate her mind. Fuel her imagination. What was wrong with her? She hardly knew him, yet her heart had breathlessly cried out for him to take her in his arms and...

  Cash would be here any minute to prepare for meeting the Tallington representatives. They’d arrived a short while ago, ushered into the inn by her mother, father and Grandma Jo for a high country breakfast. Then it would be Cash’s and her turn to convince them that the Hideaway’s horse operation was second to none.

  But how could she face him when only a few hours ago he’d read her betraying thoughts, been provoked into moving ever closer to gaze down at her with surprise and yearning that equaled hers. And then, as if drawn by the magnet of her will, he’d leaned in...

  “Rio?”

  At the sound of a voice calling from the far end of the barn, her eyes flew open. Cash.

  Fumbling with the latch, she quickly let herself into Gypsy’s stall. Had she not learned anything from her experience with Seth? To take it s-l-o-w. Be on the alert. Cautiously test the waters. But all she wanted to test last night was how Cash’s lips tasted on hers.

  She took a steadying breath. “Back here!”

  But to her relief he didn’t come farther into the barn, remaining just outside the open double doorway. Was he embarrassed, too, at the way she’d practically thrown herself at him? That’s why he hung back?

  “Grady caught me,” he called. “He says your Grandma Jo wants you and me to join the Tallington reps for breakfast. They want to meet the whole family.”

  Family. Grandma Jo had included Cash in that.

  She poked her head out the stall door. “Okay. I’ll meet you there. I’m checking on Muffin.”

  When he departed, she finished up in the barn, then retreated to the inn’s restroom to wash up, the tension in her arms evidence that she wasn’t looking forward to the day ahead for more reasons than one. As always, she grimaced at the mirrored image, her gaze automatically focusing on her slightly crooked nose—a reminder, compliments of Seth, of the stupidity of her youth.

  A reminder, as well, not to make the same mistake again.

  When she entered the inn’s dining room—the last of the Hunters to arrive—she was introduced to the three events contractor representatives. Elizabeth, a well-dressed middle-aged woman—or at least well dressed for Boston business, not a mountain country Arizona excursion—seemed unexpectedly approving of the breakfast special, complete with scrambled eggs topped with fresh salsa, sausage, seasoned potatoes, rosemary‒pine nut banana bread and prickly pear jelly.

  Jim, a friendly gentleman in his early fifties who quizzed them on the Hideaway’s history, documenting in a leather-bound journal their responses and his own impressions, looked comfortable in slacks and a golf shirt.

  And Edmund, an eager-looking man in his early thirties, boasted obviously new jeans, boots and a bright plaid collared shirt. A red bandanna looped around his neck, and, undoubtedly, a treasured cowboy hat must be secured on a horseshoe hook by the door. He expressed disappointment at having missed the breakfast ride. But although his enthusiasm and somewhat gaudy attire might lead one to dismiss the role he played in this critical visit, she recognized a razor-sharp intelligence and observance of detail.

  Cash caught that, too.

  “He’s the one who won’t let anyone pull anything over on them,” he said after breakfast as they headed to the trail ride office to await their turn to be interviewed and show their guests around the horse facilities. “I have a feeling not much gets by that guy.”

  Although Rio couldn’t bring herself to look at Cash during the breakfast meeting, there hadn’t been a single moment that she’d been unaware of him. Now, as they awaited the Tallington reps, she resorted to fleeting glances as they lingered outside the office, enjoying the cool summer morning that set off this part of Arizona from the lower elevations. They couldn’t ask for better weather for showcasing the Hideaway.

  “Elizabeth,” she managed, darting a look in his direction despite the embarrassment of their previous encounter that still gripped her, “seemed to appreciate the antiques in the dining room and lobby. I think she’ll like that in the guest rooms at the inn, as well. The cabins, too.”

  Rio needn’t have worried about carrying on a conversation with him, though, for there were people coming in for a morning meal to greet and others to welcome back from the breakfast ride. Then soon enough the two Tallington males exited the inn with a forty-minute trail ride at the top of their agenda, Elizabeth having preferred to remain inside to tour the inn’s kitchen, conference rooms and guest accommodations.

  All went well, even when Edmund inserted his foot too far into the stirrup and got himself hung up. King had been a good choice for his mount, a showy-looking appaloosa gelding that would appeal to the young man’s flashy tastes but nevertheless had an award-winning disposition and limitless patience.

  Afterward, the two accompanied Rio and Cash on a tour of the horse facilities, grilling their hosts on daily routines, sanitation and safety measures. Staff experience, quality and training of horses, maintenance of equipment and insurance coverage figured in, as well.

  She later saw them talking to guests who’d come back from a ride. Nice enough folks, but highly focused. Even the overeager Edmund wasn’t given to idle chitchat once they got down to serious business. They offered no comments as to whether they liked or disliked something, Jim jotting furiously in his journal.

  When several hours later the two reps returned to the inn to join Elizabeth, Grandma Jo and Rio’s parents for a lunch meeting, Rio reluctantly approached Cash, who was inside the barn checking out King’s tack, inspecting the stirrups with a kee
n eye.

  “Do you think,” he said from where he’d placed the saddle on a bale of straw, “that Edmund deliberately stuck his foot through this stirrup? He had heeled boots on. It would take effort to do what he managed to do.”

  “You mean maybe he deliberately did it to test how King would react and what we’d do? Kinda risky, though. Good way to get yourself dragged down the road should a horse spook.”

  “I could be wrong, but despite his dudish mistakes, I think the man knows horses.”

  Which made her all the more uneasy that they’d possibly been evaluated by a professional horseman.

  With Cash acting no differently around her than usual, though, she garnered courage for a question that was gnawing at her. “So how do you think things are going? Overall, I mean.”

  He lifted the saddle. “No telling.”

  Although in the week hours of the morning he’d expressed doubts that promoting the rustic elements of the Hideaway was the best way to go, she’d hoped he’d be upbeat today. Set her fears to rest.

  Saddle propped on his hip, Cash paused on his way to the tack room to look back at her, almost as if sensing her disquiet. “We run a safe and well-organized operation, Rio. Are inspected regularly. I don’t know what more they could want.”

  Then he moved on and, with a sigh, she headed to her folks’ cabin to make herself a sandwich and go over her notes for that evening’s talk with the high school youth group. She’d again wrestled in the night with Cash’s take on her vow, and the merit of his words had her seriously questioning that perhaps she’d missed the intention of what she’d thought God had spoken to her.

  And did Cash turning his life around, giving himself to God, mean that she no longer had reason to fear him? That possibility sent hope bubbling that she quickly tamped down. She didn’t dare get ahead of herself. It wasn’t uncommon, she’d heard, for those incarcerated to “come to Jesus” in hopes of shortening their sentences, yet abandon Him later.

  Only time would tell.

  She’d finished lunch, readying to return to the barn, when an agitated Grady barged in to report the departure of the three Tallington representatives.

  Barely a half day? Six hours?

  That couldn’t be good.

  With a sickish feeling in the pit of her stomach, she commandeered Grady and took off to give Cash the news.

  * * *

  “Lookin’ good, Cash.”

  Luke gazed up the ladder to where Cash was finishing another coat of paint on the back of one of the barns with a flourishing sweep of the spray gun.

  “Everything always takes more time than you think it will, doesn’t it? I’d hoped we could have this second coat done before the Tallington visit.”

  “It’s done now, though. You and Rio have been kicking major fanny out here. These barns look great. I hope those reps recognize the work that’s been put into the horse operation.” He glanced around. “Where is Rio, anyway?”

  “Haven’t seen her since lunchtime.” He thought she might join him to finish up the painting before their next trail ride. But clearly, after the near-miss kiss he’d almost pulled off last night—misinterpreting all the signals like some overeager teenager—she was steering as far from him as she could get today. She could barely bring herself to look at him.

  That fact left Cash a little uneasy with Luke’s unexpected visit to check the painting progress. During one of those Sunday dinners when Cash had joined the family, there had been plenty of laughter when Grady and Luke bandied about those classic “so you think you want to date my sister” jokes. Apparently they had a reputation as Rio’s personal guard dogs.

  Did they have a radar that detected when a male was getting too close?

  “I heard your kid’s coming right along with his pony.”

  “Not too bad considering he’s a late bloomer. I think it’s Rio working with him that’s made a big difference.”

  Luke angled a look at him. “Everything okay between you two?”

  “Joey and me?” What was this, an experienced father of three here to offer advice? Had Rio told her family about his financial situation even though he’d asked her not to? About his struggles with parenting Joey?

  “Actually...” He studied Cash. “I was referring to you and Rio. I’d kind of gotten used to the way you two seemed to be hitting it off. To the way this summer she’s come out of the shell she’d curled into when she came back from college. I’d put that partially down to the time she’s spent with you and your boy. But in the past week or so, she’s pulled back in again.”

  Luke’s eyes narrowed as if expecting a full confession of wrongdoing. But Cash wasn’t at liberty to discuss what had come between them—differing views on Rio’s vow.

  “I wouldn’t worry too much about it, Luke. She has a lot on her mind. School. Turning things over to me. Then this Tallington visit has added pressure. We’re all feeling it.”

  “Could be.” Luke nodded, not appearing satisfied with Cash’s explanation. “But keep an eye on her for me, will you? Something’s up there. I’m just not sure what.”

  If Cash wasn’t mistaken, Luke was about to say more when Rio and Grady rounded the side of the barn. And if the look on their faces was any indication, they weren’t here to share good news.

  Cash climbed down a few steps on the ladder, then leaped to the ground. Placed the painting equipment at his feet.

  “Well, folks.” Grady’s smile was grim. “Hate to be the bearer of bad tidings, but we crashed and burned.”

  With a sinking feeling, Cash exchanged a look with Luke. That wasn’t what any of them wanted to hear. Not after he’d encouraged the Hunters to present the rustic Hideaway to their visitors without apology.

  “They turned the Hideaway down flat?” He hadn’t expected anything like that. At least not so quickly.

  Grady shrugged. “Not officially. May as well have, though. They said someone would get back to us. But how else can you interpret it when they only hung around not much more than a handful of hours? Uncle Doug’s about to blow a gasket.”

  Luke set his hands on his hips. “You’re telling me they’re gone? Already?”

  “Right after lunch.” Rio turned somber eyes on her brother. “They didn’t stay for a moonlit hayride. Or spend the night in the cabins we’d reserved for them.”

  “That doesn’t sound good.” Luke wearily rubbed the back of his neck. “Personally, though, as much as I hate to see this opportunity slip through our fingers, as much hard work as all of us put into it, I’m glad to have this behind us regardless of the way things have turned out. It’s been hanging over our heads since the middle of May. But this isn’t the end of the world.”

  “No, it’s not.” Cash leaned a hand against the ladder. “I’m still optimistic.”

  Grady cut him a doubtful look. “Glad someone is.”

  “I’m serious. They were here for over half a day. Toured the cabins, rooms and meeting spaces. Seemed to enjoy breakfast. They rode horses and got a good look at the surrounding forest. The views.”

  “Then they hit the road without a word of encouragement,” Rio flatly concluded. “Sounds like they were real impressed.”

  He gazed at the semicircle of cheerless faces. “Look, they covered a lot of territory in a short time, right? I don’t know that a moonlit ride, another meal or spending the night here would have swayed them one way or another if they didn’t like what they’d already seen.”

  “But that hayride is fun,” Rio defended. “And who wouldn’t want to stay overnight and check out the quality of the service? The evening meal?”

  “These people are viewing a lot of properties this summer.” Until Tallington gave them a flat-out no, as far as he was concerned the game was still on. “They’ve probably seen quite a few already. They know what they’re looki
ng for and how to spot it. I didn’t get the impression that this was a first time out for any of them. There’s still hope. Plenty of it.”

  “Well, think what you want, Cash, but I’m not holding my breath.” Luke again rubbed his neck. “And I, for one, am calling it a day.”

  Cash folded his arms. “Still no shut-eye?”

  Luke gave him a puzzled look, then laughed. “Not much. My first kiddos were flatland born, but I’ve heard babies often come early at these higher elevations. It’s not panning out that way, though, and I think Delaney’s ready for me to drive her up to the top of the over twelve-and-a-half-thousand-foot San Francisco Peaks to see if we can get things moving.”

  Everyone laughed, the tension from the bad news dissipating somewhat. After a few more minutes of commiseration, Grady and Luke headed off.

  But Rio lingered. “Don’t blame yourself for this, Cash.”

  He focused on collapsing the extension ladder. “They may be drawing up a contract as we speak.”

  “You don’t really believe that, do you?”

  “It’s as easy to believe as not to. And feels a whole lot better.”

  “What I’m feeling is let down.” She turned glum eyes on the freshly painted barn. “We worked so hard. All of us. We really needed this.”

  “Everything works for the good,” he reminded her. “Don’t give up yet.”

  She remained silent, staring at the barn, then looked back at him. “What was Luke talking to you about before Grady and I showed up? It wasn’t about Tallington’s departure, because neither of you knew about that yet.”

  “He was asking about you, actually.”

  She scoffed. “That sounds ominous.”

  “He didn’t think you seemed like yourself this past week and wanted to make sure everything was okay with you.”

  With an unladylike snort, she pinned him with a skeptical look. “And he asked you? What did you tell him?”

  “That you had a lot on your plate and a lot on your mind.” He studied her a moment. “Was I off the mark?”